Comments on: The great 1909 car race

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:27:27 +0000

I am the great granddaughter of T. Arthur Pettingill, the mechanic for the Shawmut. He had passed down a collection of photos of the race to his daughter. When they were being shown at a Rotary meeting in Massachusetts, they were stolen. Such a historical archive lost. If anyone has any photos of the Shawmut and the drivers, I would sure love to get a copy. You can contact me at information at acmedigitaldesign dot com
Thanks,
Susan

By: Bev Faitz

Bev Faitz — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:47:02 +0000

I am also Bert Scott’s grandaughter. My sister and I helped my dad, Jack Scott, research and write his book on his father’s heroric drive throughtout the United States. Such a thrill to know my grandfather completed, and won, such a marvelous part of American history. I met some of the people responsible for putting on the reenactment of the race and plan to be in Seattle along with my sister and brother. My daughter will also be coming along and possibly my son. Our family is very proud of Bert Scott and James Smith in winning the race of 1909. We will have my dad’s book with us and the statements that they did not put in a new engine. Indeed they only had the same axel that was in the car straightened after a wreck.

By: mary and peter bernhardt

mary and peter bernhardt — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:59:57 +0000

Dear Burt and Barbara, Mary and I are co-chairmen of the 2009 Rerun. We met your wonderful father and mother (grandmother and grandfather) in Kansas City in 2005 going across country to prepare for the trip and were in their house and took them out to dinner Jack was a wonderful man and autographed his book about his Dad’s l909 trip as well as gave us a nuimber of pictures and showed us the trophy, then very tarnished. We have included those pictures and excerpts of the book throughout the 256 page triptik for the 2009 run. We were so touched by yoour reminiscence, Barbara, that we are copying it and will include it in the end of the triptik before it is bound. We look forward to meeting you both in July . Burt, we have arranged if you want, and I hope you do, to be in a replica of the l909 Ford Number 2 to be driven by Mike Roorda from Florida and be first at the finish in July when the car cuts the tape over the original gates to the l909 AYP Exhibition as occurred in l909 and have a rep;lica of the laurel wreath which a farmer gave Burt in l909. Our E mail address is oldcarnut33@ yahoo.com. Yours ever, Mary and Peter Bernhardt. And please give our warmest wishes to your wonderful mom/grandmom.

By: Join Griesenbeck

Join Griesenbeck — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:50:43 +0000

I am part of the reinactment. To read and see what our trip is about go to http://www.oceantoocean.ning.com.

By: Barbara Parrent

Barbara Parrent — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:17:02 +0000

I am one of Bert Scott’s granddaughters. I had the honor in 1984, of watching my Father, Jack Scott, Bert’s only son, drive the last 100 mile leg into Seattle, in the 75th Anniversary race. It was such a thrill to relive my Grandpa’s legacy; to see so many wonderful people dress in vintage clothing and re-enact an event so dear to our family; but the best part of all was to see the excitement in my Dad’s eyes to be a part of something so dear to him. My Dad has talked about the upcoming 100 year anniversary for year’s, with the hope of traveling with one of the drivers in the event. Sadly, he passed away this past fall. We miss him terribly, but know in our heart he would pray for the participants in the event, for good weather, and a safe ride. May God Bless them all.

By: burt scott

burt scott — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:37:41 +0000

I’m the grandson of Bert Scott, the driver of the # 2 Ford car who was the winner. We have the trophy in our possession and I personally have the gold watch he received, given to me by my dad, Jack Scott. I intend to be in Denver for the re-enactment this summer, and hope to attend the finish.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:28:20 +0000

i couldn’t tell you if i knew

By: Colin Condit

Colin Condit — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:52:54 +0000

Go to historicellensburg.org and hit history link. The history of the Northern Pacific Railroad Station in Ellensburg, WA has a brief paragraph about the great 1909 car race. Apparently each local community was responsible for making the road passable. The kittitas County Commissioners in 1909 had an interesting comment
about when a cleanup should occur. cc